An Appropriately spent Memorial Day...

In Valley Forge. 

I'm so grateful to all the past, present and future men and woman who serve to protect this great nation of ours.  You make it possible for us to visit wonderful sights like this.

Lazy Sunday

Last Sunday we decided to take a stroll through the cemetery near our house.  It's the same cemetery I love running through.  It really is so gorgeous, and as Clark stated, "They sure don't make them like they used to."

I'm getting into a bad habit of only taking pictures on my camera rather than lugging our DSLR around.  Though these photos are less than crisp, it's so nice to not have to try hard to be artistic. Instagram is basically programmed to do it for you.

Guess who broke out her wedding jewelry and is now going to make a more conscious effort to wear it more often!?? (It's me, just in case you really are stumped.)

After our leisure stroll through the charming Woodland Cemetery, we took a drive out on highway 1, realized we were almost out of gas, and turned around before we even left NE Philly.  Dang it.  Next time we'll make it further.

Uncovered Art

So last week we were in our psuedo-office, organizing important documents and shredding outdated, no-longer-important documents (because this is what we do for funsies nowadays).   I came across this folder and thought to myself: we haven't had Sprint as our cell phone carrier for years.  Why have we not thrown this out already? 

So I opened this folder, only to find:

A drawing of a smiling stick figure holding a star. There weren't any Sprint documents, just this cute little drawing by my husband, and several blank sheets of printer paper.  He doesn't remember doing this.  Oh, how I love his silliness.  

It gave us a good laugh, anyway.  And for the record, Clark does have advanced, artistic abilities beyond that of a six year old.  

D.C. Temple and birthday celebration

Clark and I finally paid a visit to the Washington D.C. Temple.  It's so lovely and much bigger than I expected. Aren't the gold spires just awesome?

Afterward we drove over to the Eastern Market specifically to have dinner at the Tortilla Cafe.  I saw it on an episode of Diners, Drive- ins, and Dives and my mouth literally watered when this restaurant was featured.  As for the Eastern Market: super lame.  It's probably better on the weekend but it still doesn't compare to the Reading Terminal Market in Philly.

We shared a pupusa platter and a tamale platter.  I had never had a pupusa and let me tell you, I am sold.  They were delish.  Everything was really tasty.  I also tried a plantain for the first time.  Where have I been all this time?

Scott and Dagmara were able to join us for dinner since she was able to get off of work early. The benefits of having a nice boss :)  Since Scott's birthday was the following day, we decided to make this a celebration and treat them to dinner.  

After dinner we made a stop at Krispy Kreme.  Scott decided that he would rather have donuts than a cake for his birthday.  To each his own.

On Scott's birthday we toured Arlington National Cemetery and witnessed the changing of the guard.  I remember when Clark and I watched this same ceremony five years ago when we toured the cemetery with Kyle and Kim.  It's such a humbling and beautiful ceremony.

From the cemetery we walked to the reflection pool, which is still under construction (it was under construction back in November).  Funny thing is, Clark and I have yet to see the Washington Monument reflect off the water in the pool.  Five years ago we visited and the pool wasn't filled with water. Guhhhh.

We were so happy we were able to make a quick trip down to D.C. to visit the Temple and see Scott and Dagmara, and celebrate Scott's birthday!  Thank you guys for letting us stay with you on such short notice. Hopefully next time we visit, the reflection pool will be filled!

Rowing on the Reservoir

Who would believe that a beautiful reservoir might exist right out side of Baltimore?

Last weekend we spent a day with the Kyle Tobler family, rowing boats around part of the Loch Raven Reservoir.  It was so, so much fun.  The day was beautiful and I think Charlie and Greta really enjoyed their time spent on the water. Charlie was initially was a little wary of the  movement of the rowboat on water, and was afraid of tipping over.  But he got used to the motion of being on water, and even ended up doing a little rowing!

Charlie giving the camera some attitude.  This photo screams please loosen the strap that runs between this poor child's legs.  The strap was, shortly after this photograph was captured, loosened.

My very capable rower.

In between episodes of anxiety.  

Switching children.

Immediately post-swap Greta offered me some of her peanut butter sandwich.  Such a sweetie.

Family photo attempt # 2 or 3.  

Attempt #4: success!

Pregnant Kim shoving their rowboat off.  

Greta again offering me some of her sandwich. 

 Charlie got in on the rowing action.

Greta assisting me with an oar.

You do not want to share a water bottle with her.  Peanut butter sandwich + drinking water as documented = opaque liquid with hundreds of particles of food.  

She sure is a cutie.

What an awesome reservoir.  I'd love to go back and spend the all day on the water.  

After the rowboat excursion we headed back to the house for an amazing candlelit dinner of steak, Caesar salad and Texas toast.

Well, it turned into a candlelit dinner once it got dark.

Thanks for a great time Kyle and Kim!  Let's do it again soon!

Our Boston Adventure

Recently, Clark and I took a trip up to Boston to visit Chad, Janet, Violet and Lucia.  In the spirit of Boston slang, it was wicked fun!  Janet had an amazing itinerary planned for us, and from the time we arrived there was never a dull moment!  I am kind of amazed by her ability to accomplish SO much with two busy, angelic little people in tow. 

Violet made us feel so special by counting down the days to our arrival with a paper chain. She also wrote us a nice, welcoming message on her chalkboard.  She's such a sweetie.

We spent the first morning at the Garden in the Woods.  It was a little drizzly, but the girls were prepared with their princess umbrellas.  

I'm sure Lucia was trying to determine the best possible way to get on the other side of the roped off area...unfortunately for her, there were too many adults to keep her on the gravel path!

Counterfeit parents.  We like to pretend :)

We were told that there were many flower species in bloom.  However, I think this was one of the only flower species I actually saw blooming.  

After the enjoying the Garden in the Woods, we made our way to the U.S.S. Constitution and respective museum.  Here is the Boston skyline from the ship.

Below deck, keeping the girls in check ;)

Later in the evening, we drove down to Cambridge for Thai food and amazing hot chocolate.  Seriously, I have never had hot chocolate quite like this. The dark hot chocolate was UNBELIEVABLE.  Should have taken a picture of the hot chocolate, but instead I took a picture of this:

Someday we'll have this print in our kitchen.

The next day we filled up on an amazing assortment of donuts before heading to Salem, MA.  These donuts really were killer. So good, in fact, that we got a dozen twice within our five day visit.  

Salem was a cute, quaint town and fun to explore.

The stone benches in this photo have been dedicated to the 19 innocent people wrongly accused and killed for dabbling in witchcraft.  I'm sure glad I didn't exist in 17th century Salem. Yikes.

We had a wonderful lunch near the waterfront, and afterwards the girls needed some time to run around.  Lucia made a friend who shared his ball with her. 

She was not happy to leave, yet it had to happen sooner or later.

We ventured down near the House of the Seven Gables.  Lilacs were in bloom and smelled so delightful.  Oh, how I wish I had a lilac tree.  They're beautiful and they smell good.  Unlike the tree that is beautiful but smells like partially cooked hamburger (I have no idea which tree emits this smell, but it is horrendous).

We didn't want to splurge and tour the property, so I decided to snap a quick photo of the  manicured lawn and posterior view of the house.

We attempted to take some family photos.  

The girls crack me up in this one.

That's one good looking family!

Gosh they're cute!

On our drive back from Salem we drove up to Prospect Hill to get a good look at Boston.

Sunday before church we walked part of the minute man trail, and learned some factoids about our great country's history.

We even got a photo with a Red Coat at the site of the North Bridge.

The North Bridge from a distance.

Later that evening I helped Janet with some crafts.  She helped me tap in to my crafty side. I now know how to make a flower out of felt.  Alright!

Monday we finally had a beautiful, sunny day!  We spent the day walking around downtown, eating our picnic Burger King in the Boston Common, playing on the playground, and riding carousels. 

Violet's not quite tall enough for the water fountain yet.

Reflections of buildings on the Frog Pond.

Lucia loved the carousel so much that when the ride was ended and we had to leave, she grabbed onto the metal fence and started shaking it.  Lucia is so cute when she's upset.

Violet happened to love the carousel, too! 

We missed the release of the swans in the morning, but were still able to see the birds preening their feathers in the park.  

And Janet finally found where the duck statues are located!  

We had such an incredible time with the Chad Tobler family. Thank you for your hospitality and for having us.  We can't wait to see you all again!